| According the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) one | | | | These cases of drug resistant TB are very difficult |
| out of every three people in the world is infected | | | | to treat. |
| with Tuberculosis (TB), one of the World's deadliest | | | | How can I protect my family if I have Tuberculosis? |
| diseases. It is estimated that each year, almost 2 | | | | The most important thing to remember if you have |
| million people around the world die of TB. | | | | TB disease of the throat or lungs is to take al I all |
| Ms. Kelly Smith, MPH, Program Manager at the Francis | | | | your medications exactly as ordered by your |
| E. Curry National Tuberculosis (TB) Center at the | | | | healthcare provider. Always cover your nose and |
| University of California, San Francisco, reminds us that | | | | mouth with a tissue when you cough, sneeze, or |
| the efforts to control TB must also be coordinated | | | | laugh. Throw the tissue away immediately in a closed |
| and global. We must all remain conscious of this | | | | bag. Sleep in a bedroom away from other family |
| disease because our freedom to travel and to | | | | members until the medications have taken effect, |
| migrate to various countries of the world makes all | | | | usually 2 to 3 weeks and air out your room often. A |
| of us vulnerable -no matter who we are, or where | | | | fan in the window blowing air out (exhaust) will |
| we live. Awareness again is the basis for treatment | | | | decrease TB germs in the room. |
| and for prevention of this global disease. | | | | People with TB can infect someone with whom they |
| What is tuberculosis? Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease | | | | spend time every day. This is the reason that health |
| that is spread through the air from one person to | | | | care workers are routinely tested for TB at least |
| another. It mainly affects the lungs and moves | | | | once each year. They come in contact with many |
| between people when one person with TB of the | | | | people who are possible sources of TB infection. |
| lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, laughs, speaks, or | | | | Have everyone who was in close contact with you |
| sings. When TB germs multiply, the kidneys, brain, | | | | before you started the medication, tested for TB |
| spine, or other parts of the body can also be | | | | infection. |
| affected. | | | | I am afraid I may forget to take the medication |
| How would I know if I have TB? If you have the | | | | exactly the way the doctor told me. It is very |
| active TB disease in your lungs, you may have chills | | | | important that you have written directions on how |
| and/or fever, cough a lot, cough up mucus or blood | | | | your health care provider wants you to take the |
| or have chest pain when you cough. You may also | | | | medications. This is the first step in remembering to |
| feel weak and tired, lose weight, lose your appetite | | | | take the medications as ordered. As with any |
| and sweat a lot at night. These symptoms usually | | | | medication that you may need to take regularly, you |
| last several weeks and usually get worse unless | | | | will be most successful if you develop a routine |
| treated. | | | | around taking the medication. For example, take your |
| However, not everyone who has been infected with | | | | pills at the same time every day. You can set an |
| TB feels ill or has symptoms of TB. If you have a | | | | alarm on your cell phone, or just take them with |
| latent TB infection (LTBI), you may not feel ill, will | | | | breakfast or when you have your morning coffee. |
| not be infectious, and cannot spread the TB to | | | | You may ask a family member or friend to remind |
| someone else. Approximately one out of every ten | | | | you or to check and see if you have taken your pills |
| infected people will develop active TB, usually within 2 | | | | that day. If you prepare the medication at the |
| years of becoming infected. | | | | beginning of the week in a pill dispenser, you will be |
| If you have been in contact with someone who has | | | | able to easily see if you took your pills every day. |
| TB, your local health department or your primary | | | | You can also place a mark on your calendar each day |
| care provider can conduct a thorough physical exam | | | | to indicate that you remembered to take your pills. If |
| and test you to see if you have become infected. | | | | you miss a day, follow the instructions given to you |
| There are two types of tests that your health care | | | | by your healthcare provider about a missed dose. |
| provider can recommend to detect TB infection: a | | | | Usually you will be told to skip the missed day and |
| skin test (PPD) or a special TB blood test. The PPD | | | | take the pills again at the next scheduled time. |
| can take up to three days to determine if the person | | | | If you do not trust that you can take the pills |
| is infected: the blood test takes a slightly shorter | | | | regularly on your own, or if you notice that you are |
| time. Other tests such as a chest x-ray and/or a | | | | missing doses often, notify your health care provider. |
| sample of sputum may also be used. | | | | There is a service available in most communities |
| If you have TB infection you may be given | | | | (Directly Observed Therapy or DOT) where you |
| medication to prevent the TB infection from | | | | meet with a health care worker every day, or a few |
| becoming the TB disease. If you have TB disease, | | | | times a week, at a convenient place. The meeting |
| medication will be used to kill the TB germs. TB | | | | may be in your home or a community center, your |
| germs die very slowly and it is very important in both | | | | work or a TB clinic. You take the medication during |
| cases, to regularly take all the medication prescribed | | | | this brief meeting while the health care worker |
| for you. Usually nine months to one year is the time | | | | watches. |
| the medication is prescribed. If you stop taking the | | | | Remember awareness is the first step in treatment |
| medication too soon, you may become ill again, and | | | | and prevention of global TB disease. |
| the gems may develop resistance to the drugs. | | | | |